Chapter 4 - In vitro evaluation and spectroscopic characterization of nanomaterials for theranostic applications

Abstract

Nanomaterials are extensively used for their theranostic applications in the field of infectious disease. These nanomaterials exhibited improvement in the efficacy of anti-infective agents because of their submicron size and other surface properties. Therefore, the evaluation of these properties is critical for their successful application. These characteristics include particle size, size distribution, surface, and absorption properties. Therefore, the main focus of the present chapter is to discuss different in vitro evaluation parameters along with a special emphasis on their size, morphology, and functionalization of the surface. The different techniques like photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS), nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) are generally used for the evaluation of their particle size and surface properties and hence, discussed in the chapter. Further, the fundamental and applications of advance spectroscopic techniques viz. confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy (RS) are also used to assess functionalization of their surface and described here. Moreover, analytical techniques used in the analysis of solid-state properties of the nanomaterials like differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and powder-X-ray diffraction (X-ray scattering) have also been incorporated in this chapter. Additionally, different in vitro cell models used for the assessment of their absorption are discussed along with their merits and demerits in this chapter. Therefore, this will provide an in-depth understanding of the different in vitro analytical parameters, spectroscopic techniques, and in vitro cell models along with their advantages, limitations, and theranostic applications in the management of infectious diseases.